Toilet-soap server



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H. B.'POTTER.

TOILET SOAP SERVER.

No. 485,653. Patented Nov. 8, 1892.

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No. 485,653. Patented Nov. 8,1892

UNITE STATES PATENT Fries.

HOBERT B. POTTER, OF HILLBURN, NEW YORK.

TOILET-SOAP SERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,653, dated November 8, 1892.

Application filed July 29, 1891. $erial No. 401,039. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOBERT B. POTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hillburn, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toilet-Soap Servers,

. where through inadvertence or otherwise parties have failed to supply themselves with soap for private use. To avoid these objections, I provide a receptacle for cakes of soap, adjacent to the basin in most instances, together with means whereby thin shavings may be cut from said. cake from time to time as soap is required, so that each person using the basin may secure a sheet of soap for exclusive use, at the same time avoiding much waste that results from placing the cake of soap directly in the water. Different appliances may be employed for carrying out this method of supplying a fresh portion of soap to each user; but I have in the drawings shown a special form of apparatus adapted for use in this connection.

In saiddrawings, Figure l is a side eleva: tion of a toilet-soap server. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the frame. Fig. 4 is a partial section on the line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a rear view of part of the frame. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the feed-wheel. tion through the ratchet-wheel, Fig. 6.

The frame A is of any suitable form, preferably adapted for attachment to the slab of a basin B, so as to project slightly over the latter, and said frame is provided with a bottom 1, side pieces 2 2, and through the latter project screws 3 3, supporting guide-plates 5 5, so that a cake of soap may be supported upon the bottom 1 and guided betweenthe guide-plates 5 5. Means are provided for feeding the soap forward a short distance at a time in order to present it to the action of a laterally-moving knife 6, whereby at each stroke of the knife a shaving of soap is cut ofi. As shown, there is a feeder consisting of a screw 7 and a plate 8, having a threaded Fig. 7 is a central vertical sec-' recess for the passage of the screw 7, and a guide-lug 9, that extends through a slot 10 of the frame, the screw-shaft turning in bearings 12 13 and having a crank-handle 14 for turning it to feed the plate backward, the threads of the screw being discontinued near the forward end of the shaft, so that the plate 8 will not be fed after it reaches the limit of its forward position. The frame A is provided at the forward end with a standard 16, having an opening for the passage of a fulcrum-pin 0, upon which swings the knifeframe D, the latter having an opening or recess X,-across which extends vertically the knife 6, which is connected detachably to the knife-frame. Said knife 6 is in the form of a triangular bar, set so that the two inner edges 00 a: will act each as a cutting-edge when the knife-frame is swung in one direction, and the frame is provided with lugs 17 17, each supporting a rubber bufier 18, that strikes against one of the side pieces 2 and limits the throw of the frame without noise.

Any suitable ratchet or other arrangement may be employed for turning the screw 7 a part revolution at each vibration of the frame D. As shown, a double ratchet-wheelE is secured to the forward end of the screw-shaft, and the frameD is bentforward to admit said wheel, as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with a double pawl F, centrally pivoted and having two lugs 20 21 for engaging the two annular ratchets 22 23 of the said wheel. The teeth of the two ratchets 22 23 are inclined in the same direction, but are not set to correspond radially with the same lines, so that as the end or lug 20 of the pawl F rides up an incline face of one of the teeth of the rack 22 when the frame D is moving in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 6, the other lug 21 will be thrown inward, and as the lug 20 passes over the edge of the tooth on which it bears the log 21 will be brought against the face of a tooth of the-ratchet 23, and the ratchet-wheel and its shaft will be turned a part revolution in the direction of the arrow a, Fig. 6. On

the return movement of the frame D the lug 21 will ride up the inclined face of one tooth and will leave the same as the lug 20 is brought against the face of one of the teeth of the rack 22, and the wheel and the screw will be turned again a part revolution in the same direction.

I thus secure a double ratchet action without the use of springs or other devices liable to get out of order.

W'henablock of soap has been fed forward until it is almost entirely cut away, the plate 8 passes onto the plain portion of the shaft? and its forward motion ceases, and in order to permit the screw to be reversed to carry the plate 8 back and to admit another block of soap I provide means for swinging the frame D outwardly and laterally. Thus the pivot-pinChas two heads 25 26 and an annu! lar groove 27, into which falls a latch-plate 28, pivoted to an arm 29 of the standard 16. When the plate 8 is to be carried back and a new block of soap supplied, the latch 28 is raised and the pin G pushed forward to permit the frame D to be drawn out to carry the pawl away from the ratchet-wheel, and also to permit the frame to be swung to one side. The plate 8 may then be carried back by reversing the revolution of the screw, turning it by the handle 14, and a new block of soap may be inserted in its place.

The inner face of the frame D at its lower end should travel in contact with the forward edge of the frame A, so as to accurately out the soap, and to hold it to this position the standard 16 is provided with an extension recessed to receive a bearing-plate 30, which may be set out by a screw 31, so as to bear against a cross-head 32 of the frame D, forcing the latter outward and keeping the lower end of the frame in close contact with the frame A, but without interfering with its sliding motion over the latter.

The side plates 5 5 may be adjusted by any suitable devices instead of the screws 3, according to the thickness of the cake of soap operated upon to guide the latter.

It will be evident that other means for cutting a shaving from a bar of soap may be used, as by moving the soap in respect to a stationary knife.

\Vithout limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, I claim- 1. The combination of the frame A,a soapfeeder, and a reciprocating frame D, and connections for operating the feeder at each movement of the frame D, and a knife on said frame having two cutting-edges, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a stationary frame A, soap-feeder, and knife-carrying frame D, and adjustable bearing 30, arranged above 1f;he pivot of the frame D, substantially as set orth.

3. The combination of the frame A, feeder, knife-frame D, and pin pivoting the frame D to the frame A and longitudinally movable to permit the frame D to slide forward, and a locking device for the pin, substantially as described.

4. The knife-frame D,pivoted to the frame A to swing laterally and movable t0 and from the said frame to a limited extent, in combination with a locking device for normally restricting said movement, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the frame A, swinging frame D, and knife, feed-plate 8, and screw-shaft carrying said plate and having a plain forward end, for the purpose set forth. 6. The combination, with the frames A and D, of the feed-plate 8, feed-screw 7, and ratchet-wheel E, having two circular racks, and a pawl F, pivoted to the frame D, and having lugs arranged to engage the teeth of said racks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOBER B. POTTER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. Fos'rnn, W.. S. MCARTHUR. 

